There are many Kast (Limestone) features hidden around this region but we believe this is one of the most impressive.
It is housed in the Hells Hole Native Forest Reserve, the smallest Native reserve Managed by ForestrySA.
Local legend has it the Hells Hole was discovered by two people came across it at night while driving a horse and trap and that they possibly came up with the name when they thought of what could have happened if they had fallen in.
It is now very popular with cave divers and the diving platform makes for a fantastic viewing area.
Hells Hole is approximately 45mts in diameter and drops down about 30mtrs to the water. The water has a maximium depth of around 25mts.
Hells Hole is a cenote, which means the roof of the sink hole has collapsed into water.
A cenote formatiom is as follows:-
The naturally acidic rainfall in this area react with the limestone to slowly erode through cracks and other areas of weakness.
This small cavity now allows for further erosion.
Water continues to settle in cavities weakening the walls, which in turn collapse, creating an underground cave
Fragile and vulnerable to weathering, the cave becomes too weak to support its roof and eventually collapses and formed what you see today, Hells Hole.
Another interesting feature of underwater caves and cenotes is Stromatolites.
These are interesting looking calcareous growths formed by algae.
Here they have been found as deep as 25mts and can be found above the present water levels.
To log this Earth Cache simply submit the answers to the following questions to the cache owner.
Q1./ What is the approximate diameter AND depth of the cenote?
From the platform:-
Q2./ Look at the opposite wall where the roof collapsed, how many different major layers of limestone can you see.
Q3./ What colour is the water and why you think this is so. (Have a good look.)
On one the information signs there is a picture of 3 types of aquatic life that live in this environment.
Q4./ What are they?
Q5./ We would love to see a picture of you or your GPS near Hells Hole (not compulsory) don't give anything away.
As per Earth Cache requirements if the answers are not received the log will be deleted.
References:- ForestrySA
While your here don’t forget Bucketeers traditional cache “Satan’s Bum V2” GC2HNFH